Cathy Freeman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medal record
Cathy Freeman
Women’s Athletics
Competitor for  Australia
Olympic Games
Gold	2000 Sydney	400 m
Silver	1996 Atlanta	400 m
World Championships
Gold	1997 Athens	400 m
Gold	1999 Seville	400 m
Bronze	1995 Gothenburg	4x400 m relay
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1990 Auckland	4 x 100 m
Gold	1994 Victoria	200 m
Gold	1994 Victoria	400 m
Gold	2002 Manchester	4 x 400 m
Silver	1994 Victoria	4x100 m

Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman also known as just Cathy Freeman OAM (born 16 February 1973) is an Australian sprinter who is particularly associated with the 400 m race. She became the Olympic champion for 400 m in 2000. She was born in Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland. The local athletics track, the "Cathy Freeman Oval", is named after her.

[edit] The Personal life of Cathy Freeman

Freeman was born in Mackay, Queensland. She and her two brothers (Garth, Norman) were raised there and in other parts of Queensland. She also had a sister named Anne-Marie who suffered from cerebral palsy and spent her life in a disabled home. She was educated at the Fairholme College, in Toowoomba. Her parents separated at a young age and her mother re-married when she was eleven. Freeman has mentioned, in her book and documentary, how her early experiences with racism and faith as a Bahá'í, have influenced her ^[1]. Freeman was raised a Baha'i, and says of her faith, "I'm not a devout Baha'i but I like the prayers and I appreciate their values about the equality of all human kind". ^[2][3]

Freeman had a long-term romantic relationship with Nic Bideau, her manager, that ended in acrimony and legal wranglings over Freeman's endorsement earnings ^[4].

Freeman married Sandy Bodecker, a Nike executive, in 1999. After her success in Sydney she took an extended break from the track to nurse Bodecker through a bout of cancer. She announced their separation in February 2003.

Freeman also dated actor Joel Edgerton for a period after her retirement. Another reason she stopped her running career was because she wanted to have children and she was thinking of naming them Michael and Jane.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Personal bests

[edit] Awards

• In 2001, Freeman received the Olympic Order from Juan Antonio Samaranch.
• Laureus named Freeman Sportswoman of the Year in 2001.

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Profile
• Powerhouse Museum collection